Nemesia plant named ‘Sunjonbusp’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Nemesia  plant named ‘Sunjonbusp’, characterized by its compact and upright growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; fragrant violet, light red purple and white-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Nemesia denticulata×Nemesia caerulea.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNJONBUSP’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant, botanically known as Nemesia denticulata×Nemesia caerulea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunjonbusp’.

The new Nemesia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in St. Brides Netherwent, Monmouthshire, Wales. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact and freely-branching Nemesia plants with unique and attractive flower coloration.

The new Nemesia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Apr. 10, 2006 in St. Brides Netherwent, Monmouthshire, Wales of a proprietary selection of Nemesia denticulata×Nemesia caerulea identified as code number 6N231, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Nemesia denticulata×Nemesia caerulea identified as code number 6N93, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Nemesia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in St. Brides Netherwent, Monmouthshire, Wales on Jul. 20, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Nemesia plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in St. Brides Netherwent, Monmouthshire, Wales since Jul. 20, 2006 has shown that the unique features of this new Nemesia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Nemesia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunjonbusp’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunjonbusp’ as a new and distinct Nemesia plant:

-   -   1. Compact and upright growth habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Long flowering period.     -   5. Fragrant violet, light red purple and white-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Nemesia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Nemesia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have light blue and white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Nemesia can be compared to plants of the male paren selection. Plants of the new Nemesia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have white-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Nemesia are shorter than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Nemesia can also be compared to plants of Nemesia denticulata×Nemesia caerulea ‘Sunjonpiho’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,841. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Nemesia differed from plants of ‘Sunjonpiho’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Nemesia were more compact than plants of         ‘Sunjonpiho’.     -   2. Plants of the new Nemesia had thicker lateral branches with         longer internodes than plants of ‘Sunjonpiho’.     -   3. Plants of the new Nemesia had shorter upper petals than         plants of ‘Sunjonpiho’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Nemesia were fragrant whereas         flowers of plants of ‘Sunjonpiho’ were not fragrant.     -   5. Plants of the new Nemesia and ‘Sunjonpiho’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘Sunjonpiho’ purple violet, red purple and         white-colored flowers.     -   6. Plants of the new Nemesia had longer peduncles than plants of         ‘Sunjonpiho’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Nemesia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Nemesia plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunjonbusp’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Sunjonbusp’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the late spring in 15-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under commercial cultural practices. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 15° C. and night temperatures averaged 5° C. Plants were pinched one time and were four months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Nemesia denticulata×Nemesia caerulea     ‘Sunjonbusp’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Nemesia             denticulata×Nemesia caerulea identified as code number             6N231, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Nemesia             Denticulata×Nemesia caerulea identified as code number 6N93,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at             temperatures of about 18° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 18 days at             temperatures of about 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at temperatures of about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact and upright growth habit;             freely branching with two lateral branches potentially             forming at every node; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 18.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 24.3 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 19.9 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2.4 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 3 cm.         -   Aspect.—Mostly upright.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Shallowly serrate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137C; venation,             close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to N137C; venation, close to N137C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.9 mm.         -   Diameter.—About 2.4 mm.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 143C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Bilabiate solitary             flowers arranged on terminal racemes; flowering acropetally             towards the apex; flowers facing mostly outwardly; freely             flowering habit with about five flowers per raceme and about             26 racemes developing per plant.         -   Fragrance.—Fragrant, pleasant.         -   Natural flowering season.—In Japan, plants flower naturally             from early spring to early summer; flowering continuous             during this period; early flowering habit, flowers begin             flowering about three months after planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about five to seven days on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower size (diameter by length).—About 2 cm by 2.2 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7.7 mm. Diameter: About 6.5 mm.             Shape: Obovate. Color: Close to 77C.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Five modified petals; four upper petals             fused at the base forming an upright lobed and arched banner             lip; lower petal modified into a larger lip with a convex             oval protuberance serving as a nectar guide and insect             landing platform. Shape, upper lip: Elliptic. Shape, lower             lip: Reniform. Apex, upper lip: Rounded. Apex, lower lip:             Obcordate. Margin, upper lip: Entire; undulate. Margin,             lower lip: Entire; slightly undulate. Length, upper lip:             About 10.8 mm. Length, lower lip: About 12.3 mm. Width,             upper lip: About 5.3 mm to 17.7 mm. Width, lower lip: About             14.2 mm. Nectar guide length: About 4.4 mm. Nectar guide             width: About 3.6 mm. Texture, upper and lower lips, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper lip: When             opening, upper surface: Close to 73B overlain with close to             86A; center, close to 1C. When opening, lower surface: Close             to N87B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 73C overlain             with close to 86B; center, close to 1C. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 86D. Color, lower lip: When opening, upper             surface: Close to NN155C overlain with close to 71D; nectar             guide, close to 6A. When opening, lower surface: Close to             76A; towards the margins, close to 75B. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to NN155C overlain with close to 71D; nectar             guide, close to 6A; color does not fade with development.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 84A; towards the             margins, close to 75B.         -   Tube.—Length: About 3.6 mm. Diameter: About 4.5 mm. Color:             Close to 1C.         -   Spur.—Length: About 8.3 mm. Diameter: About 0.8 mm. Color:             Close to 176BB.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Calyx star-shaped with five sepals in a             single whorl and fused at the base. Length: About 2.1 mm.             Width: About 1.4 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, upper surface: Close to 137C. Color, lower surface:             Close to 137D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 8.6 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong; flexible. Texture: Pubescent.             Color: Close to 144B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 10.9 mm. Diameter: About 0.4 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong; flexible. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement: Four             per flower. Stamen length: About 0.9 mm to 2.3 mm. Anther             shape: Narrowly elliptic. Anther size: About 1.4 mm by             0.8 mm. Anther color: Close to 6C. Pollen amount: Moderate.             Pollen color: Close to 6A. Pistils: Quantity: One per             flower. Pistil length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to             145C. Stigma shape: Ovate. Stigma color: Close to 145A.             Ovary color: Close to 145A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Nemesia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Nemesia have not been     observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to Nemesia     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Nemesia have been observed     have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from 5° C. to 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Nemesia plant named ‘Sunjonbusp’ as illustrated and described. 